Racquet



Jan. 31, 1961 M. c. PRESNICK RACQUET Filed Jan. 20, 1958 INVENTOR.Mia/me! C. Presnz/ck AQATTOMY RACQUET Michael C. Presnick, 150-20 71stAve, Flushing, N.Y.

Filed Jan. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 709,962

4 Claims. (Cl. 273--73) This invention relates to a racquet of the typeused in playing games, such as badminton, tennis, squash or the like,wherein the players strike a moving shuttlecock or ball with a resilientgrid commonly formed of tautened, interlaced strings of silk, nylon orgut stretched on a rigid frame.

Known to me are racquets of the type described made of laminated wood,metal or other warp resistant materials, having a generally ovoid heador frame and a handle extending as a continuation of the major axis ofthe ovoid of the head or frame. The periphery of the heads of such knownconstruction is usually provided with spaced apertures intended to formanchoring points for lengths of the stringing materials aforesaid, whichmaterials are threaded under tension lengthwise and widthwise throughthe said apertures to form a grid.

The operation of stringing a racquet of the type previously described istime consuming and customarily is carried out by highly skilledcraftsmen, since it is desirable that each string forming a part of thegrid be under the same degree of tension as every other string. Muchequipment has been designed to simplify the stringing operation, andwhile such equipment has reduced the problems incident to stringing aracquet, the operation remains a tedious and difficult one.

While attempts have been made to eliminate the necessity for stringingracquets by providing an integral molded grip adapted to be supportedupon special frame structures, the racquets employing such expedients donot have the proper feel or balance and have been more in the nature oftoys than true game racquets, since the grids of such known structuresare subject to the vice of looseness, and are likely to become displacedfrom the frame during hard usage.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a racquet andintegral grid structure free from the aforesaid disadvantages.

Another object of my invention is to provide a racquet of the typedescribed particularly adapted for economical manufacture and assembly.A further object of my invention is to provide a novel racquet assemblyof the type described, with the advantages aforesaid and without anysacrifice of rigidity, lightness of weight and balance factors inrelation thereto.

Still a further object of my invention is to provide a novel method formanufacturing racquets of the type described of sheeted material, suchas aluminum, to coordinate weight and balance with the requisiterigidity.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein orbe hereinafter pointed out, I make reference to the accompanying drawingforming a part hereof, in which-- Figure l is a plan view of a racquetin accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the components prior tofinal assembly;

Figure 3 is a magnified perspective view showing a length of tubing foruse in connection with my invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a frame for my invention in anintermediate stage of construction;

Figure 5 is a magnified section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

' Figure 6 is a magnified section taken on the line 66 of Figure 1.

Describing my invention in detail, I supply a length of tubing T (seeFigure 3) formed with an axially aligned channel 10. In the first stepof construction, the tubing T is bent as shown in Figure 4 to form apair of legs 11, 11, angularly directed relative to the central body 12of the said tubing. It is important to note that the tubing is bent inthe plane of the channel 10, and is bent away from the said channel.

The next step in assembly is to bend the points 13, 13, now forming theextremities of the central body 12 of the said tubing and later to formthe throat portion of the racquet, toward each other to form thecharacteris tic, generally ovoid head (see Figure 2). The operation ismost conveniently carried out through the use of a bending template (notshown).

At this point it will be seen that the channel 10 forms an internalannulus continuously about the inner periphery of the now formed framemember 14, the legs 11, 11 forming in this position the handle portions15, 15 by being positioned in parallelism and contiguous to each other.

The racquet frame is rigidified and the handle portions 15, 15maintained in the desired parallel alignment by telescoping a speciallyformed insert 16 within the hollow handles 15, 15. The insert 16comprises a pair of parallel, elongated rods 17, 17, joined by a centralweb 18 (see Figure 6). The rods 17, 17 are of a dimension to be snuglysleevable within the hollow handles 15, 15 and the web 18 is of athickness to permit smooth passage through the channels 10.

It will be readily recognized that when the insert 16 is sleeved withinthe handles 15 (see Figure 6), a unitary structure will be formed inwhich relative motion of the handles 15, 15 toward or away from eachother as well as distortion under torsional pressure will be minimized.

My racquet assembly includes a grip 19, normally of wood, covered with asubstance having a high coefficient of friction, such as rubber. Thegrip 19 is formed with an axial recess 20, shaped to permit the grip tobe sleeved intimately over the outer end 21 of the handle portions 15,15. It will be seen that when the insert 16 is positioned within thehandle 15, 15 and the grip 19 is telescoped over the outer end 21 of thesaid handle and fastened in the said position, as by riveting, boltingor a like expedient, axial movement of the insert 16 within the handleportion is prevented at one end by the throat portions 13, 13 and at theother end by the grip 19. With the affixation of the grip, assembly ofthe racquet frame is completed.

My racquet is provided with an integral grid or striking surface, whichis preformed and which may be quickly and permanently mounted within theassembled frame.

The grid 22, which may be molded or otherwise formed of nylon or a likeresilient material, comprises a raised peripheral bead 23 of generallyovoid shape, spanned by a series of intersecting webs W, the said webslying in a direction corresponding approximately with the major andminor axes of the ovoid head, as would be found in a strung racquet. Thebead 23 is of a dimension to permit intimate insertion of the said beadwithin the head 23 causes the latter to be cammed outwardly about itsentire periphery from the position shown in dotted lines (Figure 5) tothe position shown in solid lines, and at the same time closes thechannel sufliciently to lock the grid 22 within the frame. It will bereadily recognized that the outward c-amming. action. of the walls 25 onthe head 23 will cause the entire grid to be tautened uniformly, thedegree of tautness being a function of the amount of movement of thewalls. Some degree of stretching may be effected, if desired, by firstuniting the frame adjacent the portions 13, 13, by suitable means suchas a double-lobed plug which internally spans the segments of the headadjacent the bent. points 13, 13.

- By my invention I have provided a' game racquet frame susceptible ofeconomical manufacture and capable of withstanding, without damage, agreat amount of abuse.

The use in my racquet of an integral molded grid or striking surfacewill result in further economies, without sacrificing playing quality.

It should be noted that while. I may extend the insert 16 to a pointadjacent the throat 13, I may split or bifurcate one end ofthe insert 16up to the point 18' to provide spaced, short length bifurcations orbranches 17', 17'. When the insert 16 is driven into position, thebifurcations 17', 17' will follow the throat portions 13, 13 of theframe to the right and to the left thereof, to reinforce the throat,which is the portion subject to the greatest stress and play. By alsocrimping the channel about these bifurcated branches, they are furtheranchored about the insert, in position to rigidify the handle withrespect to the frame.

The frame in accordance with my invention is preferably made from sheetmetal, such as aluminum, which may be slitted, or the C-shaped channelmay be extruded in this shape. The use of aluminum tubing of this shapecombines lightness of weight, for balance, with rigidity and resiliencyheretofore experienced with costlier wooden frames.

For still further reducing the cost of the frame, other materials, suchas plastics, may in a measure be used for some purposes.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: u

1. The method offorming a game racquet comprising an integral webbingincluding a-peripheral bead having intersecting strips defining a gridmounted under tension within a tube defining .a frame, said tube havingwalls defining an inner peripheral split portion, comprising thestepsofbending a length of said tubing to-define' a head portion of asize substantially conforming to the head of said webbing, forming apair of handle portions to each end'of said head portion, positioningthe bead within the split of the head portion, uniting the handleportions to form a rigid structure thereof, and crimping the inner splitdefining walls of the said head portion toward each other and toward theouter periphery of the said head portion, thereby distending the stripsdefining said grid and securing said bead within said head.

2. A game racquet comprising a hollow frame including a head portion andextended parallel hollow handle portions, each having contiguous inneredges, the inner periphery of said head portion and said contiguousedges including walls defining a channel having a constricted mouthportion, integral grid means having a raised peripheral bead supportedin distended condition within said head portion, said walls definingsaid mouth portion being crimped together substantiallycircumferentially over the inner portions of said peripheral bead insuch close contact with said bead as to maintain said head in saiddistended condition, and a stiffener member secured within said handleportions including extended parallel rods of a dimension to beintimately slidable within said hollow handle portions, and a centralwebbing joining said rods of a dimension to be slidable within saidmouth portion.

3. The method of forming a game racquet comprising a tube havingsplitWalls defining an inner annular groove and an integral webbing havingintersecting strips defining a grid including a circumferentiallycontinuous bead of a size which would continuously andcircumferenti-ally' engage the walls defining said groove, comprisingthe steps of bending a length of said tubing to define a head portionsubstantially conforming to said webbing, forming a pair of handleportions to each end of said head portion, positioning said bead withinthe split of the headportion, uniting the handle portions to form arigid structure thereof and pressing the inner split defining walls ofthe said head portion toward each other and toward the outer peripheryof the said head portion whereby the walls of the annular groove act tocam the bead in a radially outward direction to tension the strips ofthe grid.

4. A game racquet comprising a handle portion and a head portion, saidlast named portion including solid walls defining a channel having aconstricted mouth portion, and integral grid means having a raisedperipheral bead supported in distended condition within the channel ofsaid head portion, said walls defining said mouth portion being crimpedtogether substantially circumferentially over the inner portions of saidperipheral head in such close contact with said bead as to maintain saidbead in said distended condition.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS News,

